Originally Posted by
ericmc
Hi everyone, I could use a bit of help figuring this out.
Right now I hold the Chase Ritz-Carlton card (originally got it via a product change from the Bonvoy Boundless back in 2024). I’m thinking about applying for the
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, but I have a few questions before I move forward:
- Am I eligible for the welcome bonus on the Brilliant card if I already have the Ritz? I know Amex has some weird rules when it comes to Marriott cards and eligibility.
- Do I have to cancel my Ritz card to get the Brilliant welcome offer? If yes, is there a required waiting period after closing the Ritz before applying for the Brilliant and qualifying for the bonus?
- I actually want to hold both personal Marriott cards (Brilliant + Ritz) if possible — is that allowed? I understand Ritz is no longer open for new applications, so I’d prefer not to give it up unless absolutely necessary.
- In your opinion, is Brilliant clearly better than Ritz now? I know Brilliant is easier to get, but Ritz has some strong perks that aren’t easy to replace (especially the Priority Pass with unlimited guests). I’m weighing whether closing Ritz just for the bonus on Brilliant is worth it.
- I also currently hold the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Amex card, so with that plus my current setup, I get 30 elite nights/year (15 from Ritz + 15 from Biz). If I add the Brilliant, I’ll be able to get 40 nights a year total (since you can stack the 25 nights from Brilliant with 15 from Biz). That’s part of why I’m considering this.
Any insights on how best to play this — or your own experience holding both cards — would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!
https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-card-eligible/
1- no, You're are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you have had the card on the left [Ritz] within the past 30 days
2- I think you can downgrade to the Boundless, apply for the Brilliant, then reupgrade to the Ritz. There were a few DP of this. I don't know if you can reupgrade immediately after 30 days or need to wait longer
3- Yes I have both currently, but I had Brilliant first, then Boundless converted to Ritz.
4- They are different. I am LTP and hold the Brilliant mostly for the 85k cert. The Ritz as a standalone card is better for me as it also has an 85k and great PP benefits without having to use a credit every month. However, my strategy is to stack 85k certs so I will reapply for a Boundless soon with the intent to convert to a second Ritz. If I didn't care about stacking the certs I would probably just hold one Ritz and ditch the Brilliant. I already got rid of the Business card after LTP.
5- Yes, this is optimal until you have LTP. I vaguely remember there was a report that you can stack ENC from cards from other countries, don't remember the details